The last chapter...

Chapter 10 - A New Day

The sky was alight with sunrise. A brand new day was coming upon Camelot. The courtyard was without people now, almost with no signs suggesting the previous events. It was two days now and most of the debris was removed. The ceilings in the castle were provisionally supported by wooden pillars and all around, there were craftsmen working on repairing the damage.

...

Merlin woke up, fresh and full of energy. He enjoyed the feeling, the smell of breakfast already filling his nose. With no hunting trips and training on his schedule, the day sounded promising. Who knew, maybe he'd have some time for himself in the end of the day.

They didn't catch the assassin who killed Daragh. Well, Merlin didn't expect them to do so, but still, the atmosphere in the castle changed. He and Gaius suspected Agravaine before, but now, when there was an official threat upon them, there were more rumours spreading among the people. The fact Daragh mentioned Merlin's name on the yard put Merlin in situations of awkward silence whenever he went to the town. All he could do was to hope things would settle down soon.

...

"Morning!" he greeted enthusiastically, walking down the small stairs from his chamber. The old physician raised his head from a book he was reading. He seemed to be already finished with his breakfast.

"Sleep well?"

"Like never before." Merlin sat opposite to his friend. He remembered the night when the arrow was still in his side. The sleeping was actually rather tiresome.

"It's nice to hear. But you should rest more. All you've been through, it would bring down stronger men than you."

"I'm fine. Really."

After a long silence, Merlin finally noticed Gaius's eyes looking inquiringly at him. He always somehow could recognize, when Merlin was hiding something from him or wasn't completely honest. "I was a bit shaken on the yard," Merlin explained.

"That was close. But it's over now. You don't have to worry about Daragh anymore," Gaius assured.

"What if he managed to inform Agravaine," Merlin brought up. "And right now as we speak he could be heading to Morgana."

Gaius closed the book and put it away, looking understandingly in Merlin's eyes. "We must believe he didn't. You shouldn't bother with that."

"But if Morgana knows, she will put things together. She's not stupid. She will find out who I am."

"Daragh was a selfish man. I do not think he will share such news with Agravaine. Don't you think he'd rather kept it for himself to make sure he will be the one who pleases his queen and get the reward?"

Merlin stared at the pudding for a moment, niggling it with a spoon. Gaius was right; Daragh was not providential enough to make sure his finding will reach Morgana. He probably didn't count on the possibility he might die with the secret.

"That makes sense. Thanks, Gaius."

"After you finish your chores, I'll be needing your help today. There are quite a lot broken glasses, and one shelf needs repairing. Not talking about how many herbs you need to gather. Most of them are devaluated by dust and fragments."

"I'm at your service," he smiled, almost looking forward to doing his normal duties. It was simple and ordinary and beautiful.

...

"Rise and shine!" Merlin shouted, dragging the curtains to let the sunlight touch Arthur's nose. His room was tidy in comparison with the rest of the castle. Somehow it happened that the earthquake didn't cause any severe damage here.

"I'm not asleep," Arthur murmured tiredly. He had slept just about two hours, the noise from the corridors making him annoyed. "No one would fall asleep here."

"I slept well," Merlin smiled widely, serving a breakfast straight in Arthur's bed. "Cheese, ham and fresh bread. Smells delicious!"

"You are really enjoying this, aren't you," Arthur reacted grumpily. "I wish I had the calm sleep of reckless servants."

"And I wish I had someone to clean my room, do my laundry, polish my armour-"

"You don't have any armour-" Arthur muttered.

"No," he agreed.

"Maybe you should," Arthur suddenly got a serious look. If Merlin had had armour that day, many things wouldn't have happened. "I'm going to think about it."

Merlin went to the king's wardrobe, taking the dirty clothes in a laundry basket. Arthur watched him while eating his breakfast. It was an ordinary morning, like many mornings before, though something seemed to be different. He couldn't get rid of the thought that Merlin almost died while protecting him, and even though the king appreciated that, he was determined not to let him do it again.

"So, did you think about the traitor?" the serving boy spoke.

"Of course I did. But I am no wiser than I was before. It's like chasing a shadow," Arthur said, his mouth full of bread.

"At least you know it's not me or Gaius," Merlin tried to direct the king. Daragh claimed, the traitor was someone close to him. If he could eliminate his servant, Gaius, and the knights, there were not many candidates left.

"I can't even know if he was telling the truth. He wanted to save his life, and who knows what he made up to do so."

"You think he lied? Then, who was the one with the crossbow?"

"I don't know what to think," Arthur finished. "What about you, Merlin?"

"What?"

"Who do you think he is?"

Merlin wasn't sure how to respond. "Ehh, I-."

"Come on, don't be shy. Servants have many chances to hear things. Especially those with really big ears," Arthur smiled.

"Things like what?" Merlin asked, not really into accusing someone of treason.

"You know. Rumours? Gossip? Maybe you've seen something somewhere, or heard whispers..."

"I'm afraid not," Merlin lied. He knew the man who shot Daragh was Agravaine. He had no doubts about it, but accusing him without any evidence was too rash. Arthur wouldn't believe him.

"You are really useless. I should sell you into slavery," Arthur joked.

"You would die without me," Merlin smiled again. He finished, standing up, he grabbed the basked and headed to the door.

"And you won't last a day without me."

"Wait," Arthur stopped him. The boy turned, facing the king again.

"Daragh mentioned something about you-"

"I have no idea what he was talking about," Merlin said faster than he really wanted.

"It's all right, Merlin. I'm not going to question you. I just want you to know that you can trust me. Whatever you are hiding, you don't have to."

Merlin looked in the king's eyes, thinking about his reaction if he would finally reveal his secret. It was impossible. Maybe one day he will find courage to tell him, but not now. Arthur wasn't ready for such reverse.

Smiling forcibly, he said: "Actually there is something I'd like to discuss."

Arthur left his breakfast and sat properly, beckoning him to speak.

"My door."

A slight disappointment appeared in Arthur's face. "Ah, I understand, your door is under lock and key in the vaults where it shall remain until we find out how to remove the arrow. And since the door cannot die, I guess you'll have get used to the hole in your room. I'm sure you're going to think of something."

Merlin shot him a desperate look.

"Come on, Merlin. Don't look so gloomy. You don't actually need it, do you? Do you have any secrets hiding under your bed? A girl maybe?"

Merlin opened his mouth to protest but Arthur didn't let him.

"I'm kidding. You'll get a new door sometime soon."

Merlin smiled, "Thank you, sire." Turning to the door, he whispered 'clot-pole'.

"I heard that!"

"I know!" Merlin shouted from the corridor. Everything was all right again and Merlin realised how precious were the days he normally consider ordinary and boring. This day was exactly the case and he was ready to enjoy every single moment of it.

The End.

.

Epilogue

"You think you are more important? Than what?" Morgana shouted at Agravaine. "You should have sacrificed yourself. You should have protected Daragh instead of killing him. By betraying him you betrayed me." She was shaking in anger, almost like the rage completely took over her body.

They were in her hovel. It was dirty and wet place, almost without any light. Morgana's face was covered with shadow, making her eyes sparkle in the dark. She looked like a hungry panther watching it's pray.

"No, my lady. I would never do that. I panicked. Daragh wanted to reveal my loyalty to you," Agravaine explained, hoping his queen will be merciful. He knew he had made a mistake. But it was too late now. He hoped he would get a second chance.

"Seems like he knew me better than you," Morgana hissed angrily. "He understood what I wanted to reach." She was pacing, her eyes shifting wildly over the hovel, almost like she was searching the most incisive words to describe the rage which gripped her mind. Her furious breath was the only thing Agravaine could hear in this godforsaken place. Knowing there was nothing he could say to justify his actions, he stood silently with eyes cast down in humiliation.

"If Daragh knew something which was worth making deals with Arthur," she thought aloud, her voice raising in high tones. "Something that forced him to leave the arrow behind? What would it be?" she continued and leaned on the wooden table with her evil eyes focused inquiringly on Agravaine.

"My lady, I have no idea what the news was Daragh wanted to deliver you," he defended himself. He felt Morgana's rage on his skin. Now he knew how it felt to disappoint a high priestess. All her hatred against Camelot that accumulated in the last years was suddenly pointed at him.

"You should!" she screamed and with both hands turned the wooden table over. The anger was boiling inside her, her breath was poisoning the air, and Agravaine knew the next few seconds would be crucial for him. He hoped she wouldn't be rash.

"You had to kill him, didn't you? To save your own miserable life. You have no idea what you've done. I should kill you on the spot."

Agravaine didn't speak. It was no use.

"Tell me where he was. I want to know every place he visited. Every single person he spoke to."

"My lady," he started carefully, "as far as I know, the only people he talked with were Arthur, Gaius and some guards."

"There must be someone else," she shook her head in disagreement.

Agravaine cleared his throat. "He could have spoken to Merlin as well. The boy was found in the debris as the last one. Arthur found him. I believe he may have confronted him. He is always around when Arthur's in danger," he explained. After a few moments of impenetrable silence, Morgana finally spoke.

"If Daragh knew something what was more important than Arthur's death..." she said hoarsely. "There is just one thing more important than my brother's death. Just one thing I would put above the Camelot's throne," she whispered with shaky voice,

"Emrys."

AN: Ok, guys. I really appreciate your interest in this story. Thank you for reading, reviewing and following. It was an amazing journey and a great fun and I was really surprised with your reaction. I never thought that I have anything to say and share with the rest of the world. I love you all, you made me feel special for a couple of days :-) It really means a lot to me. I don't even know how to thank you enough. And I really mean it.

The idea of The Seventh Arrow came on my mind when I was watching 5x10 The Kindness of Strangers. I think the episode had so much potential but in the end, it just went from nowhere to nowhere. And you know... if there's whump without Arthur, it's not actually whump!

I aimed to write this story as an episode of the show. This is how I think the creators would lead the characters and how I belive it would end. I know there are some loose ends, so feel free to ask if you are interested.

I'm already writing a sequel but since I'm not entirely sure I'll be able to finish it, I won't post anything until the story is ended and beta-readed. I just don't want to make you wait too long between the chapters. I hate waiting and I think there is (almost) nothing worse than a story without a proper ending.

And the last words belong to: my beta reader TheSilverSleeper. Thank you for your help, time, patience and advice. I also have to thank to April29Roses for her comprehensive and nice reviews and to Mika271170 for her enthusiastic and honest comments. Thank you!

Please, write fan fiction, watch the show and remember, fandom never dies!

(and sorry for the mistakes I could have made in the last few paragraphs :-))

- Grace